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Skype is a software program that allows users to make calls over the
Internet to other Skype users free of charge. Calls to landlines and cell phones
can be made for a fee. Additional features include instant messaging, file
transfer and video conferencing.
SkypeOut
SkypeOut allows Skype users to call traditional telephone numbers, including
mobile telephones, for a fee which varies depending on location.
SkypeIn
SkypeIn allows Skype users to receive calls on their computers dialed by regular
phone subscribers to a local Skype phone number; local numbers are available for
Australia, Brazil, Chile, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, Estonia, Finland,
France, Germany, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand,Poland, Romania,
South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, and the United States. A Skype user
anywhere can have local numbers in any of these countries, with calls to the
number charged at the same rate as calls to fixed lines in the country. Some
jurisdictions, including France and Norway, forbid the registration of their
telephone numbers to anyone without a physical presence or citizenship in the
country.
Videoconferencing
Videoconferencing was introduced in January 2006 for the Windows and Mac OS X
platform clients. Skype 2.0 for Linux, which was released on March 13, 2008,
also features support for videoconferencing
Skype on mobile devices
On April 24, 2008, Skype announced that they offer Skype on around 50 mobile
phones.[6] On October 29, 2007, Skype launched its own mobile phone under the
brand name 3 Skypephone, which runs a BREW OS.[7] Skype is also available for
the PSP (PlayStation Portable) Slim and Lite when you download the 3.90 firmware
update, but you need a microphone that connects to the PSP 2000 headphones.
Skype has been available on mobile devices running Windows Mobile.
Other companies produce dedicated Skype phones which connect via WiFi. Third
party developers, such as Nimbuzz and Fring, have allowed Skype to run in
parallel with several other competing VoIP/IM networks in any Symbian or Java
environment. Nimbuzz have made Skype available to BlackBerry users.
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